Cosmetic product applicator, typically a brush

ABSTRACT

The applicator includes a) a lower part for manually gripping the applicator, b) a central part for resiliently straining the applicator under a manual constraint, c) an upper part bearing an application material and d) an application material anchored to the upper part wherein:  
     1) the lower and central parts have mean visible cross-sections, denoted respectively S A  and S B  such that the relative deviation ER 1 =|S A −S B |/S A  is less than 0.1, 2) the lower and central parts form a first longitudinal component having an axial direction and a first shape factor L/D between 3 and 7, L and D denoting respectively the largest axial length of and the largest diameter of the first component perpendicular to the axial direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of cosmetic product applicators, particularly brushes intended to apply to the face a solid product in a divided state such as a powder, or again pencil brushes intended to apply to the nails a liquid product such as a nail varnish.

PRIOR ART

Numerous applicators are already known such as brushes intended to apply a make-up powder to the face, mascara brushes intended to apply mascara to the eyelashes, pencil brushes intended to apply nail varnish.

These applicators may or may not engage with a dispenser of said cosmetic product.

Generally, these applicators, typically longitudinal, include a first part forming manual gripping means, a second intermediate part integral with said first part at one end, and at the other end, acting as a support for an application material, and a third part forming said application material.

These applicators may include a second flexible part, as is known for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,509,540 and 6,341,912.

PROBLEMS POSED

In many cases, known applicators on the one hand allow only a single method of manually gripping said applicator, with the result that these applicators allow only one type of effect to be obtained on the medium.

On the other hand, they do not therefore allow the way of using the applicator to be modulated or controlled manually, with the result that there is a need for applicators that allow great sensitivity and great delicacy in applying said product to said medium to be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the applicator of a product, typically a brush intended to apply a cosmetic product such as a make-up powder to a medium such as the skin, includes a) a so-called lower part forming a typically rigid means of manually gripping said applicator, b) a so-called central part, anchored to said lower part by its lower end, forming a means of resiliently straining said applicator under a manual constraint, c) a typically rigid so-called upper part bearing an application material, said upper part being anchored to said central part at its upper end, and d) said application material anchored to said upper part, and is characterised in that:

1) said lower and central parts have mean visible cross-sections, denoted respectively S_(A) and S_(B) such that the relative deviation ER₁=|S_(A)−S_(B)|/S_(A) is less than 0.1,

2) said lower and central parts form a first longitudinal component having an axial direction, said first component having a first shape factor L/D between 3 and 7, L and D denoting respectively the largest axial dimension or axial length of said first component, and the largest dimension or diameter of said first component perpendicular to said axial direction.

The term “visible cross-section” is used for that cross-section which is formed by the most peripheral radial parts which alone can be grabbed manually and thus form a grip surface. Geometrically speaking, this is the casing surface, typically cylindrical, parallel to said axial direction, which embodies either said lower part in the case of the cross-section S_(A), or said central part in the case of the cross-section S_(B).

A “mean cross-section” is considered when the gripping surface of said lower or central part is not straight but includes a withdrawn part or a raised part.

This applicator resolves the problems posed since it allows said applicator to be gripped manually over the whole length L of said first component, including therefore over said central part, which allows said manual constraint to be modulated or controlled manually, if necessary, and thus provides great sensitivity and great delicacy in applying said product to said medium, such as the face.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1 a to 2 f, 4 a and 4 b are side views of applicators (1) in the form of brushes (1′).

In FIG. 1 a, the resiliently straining central part (3) is a helical spring (35) anchored to the lower part (2) by means of a central axial projection (22) anchored to the lower end (30) of said central part (3), and anchored to said upper part (4) by a first portion (40) forming an axial projection anchored to the upper end (31) of said central part (3).

FIGS. 1 b and 1 c include as the central part (3) a succession or alternation (34) of full parts (340) and hollowed-out parts (341).

In said lower part (2) has been shown, in the form of circles in dotted lines, said cross-sections S_(A) and S_(B), of said lower part (2) and of said central part (3) respectively.

In FIG. 1 b, said succession (34) forms a component cast in one piece and anchored to said lower part (2) by means of a cavity (23) formed at the upper end of said lower part.

FIG. 1 d shows a photograph of a brush (1,1′) whose lower (2) and central (3) parts form a so-called first component (6) of the same diameter over its whole length, and typically forms a moulded component cast in one piece (8).

In FIG. 1 e, similar to FIG. 1 d, said central part (3) includes 3 helical threads (32), the core of said central part (3) being hollowed-out over the whole length of said threads (32).

In FIG. 2 a, said central part (3) has a thinned out part, with an axial profile in the shape of a bobbin (33).

In FIG. 2 b, said central part (3) is constituted by a component in a flexible material, possibly including an elastomer, said component including upper (30′) and lower (31′) projections anchored respectively to a cavity (23) formed at the upper end of said lower part (2), and to a cavity of said first portion (40) of said upper part. In this figure, said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) parts have one and the same diameter.

FIG. 2 c is a representation corresponding to FIG. 1 e.

FIG. 2 d shows diagrammatically the situation where said lower part (2) and said central part (3) form a component cast in one piece (8), formed either in one and the same plastic material or one and the same mixture of plastic materials over its entire length, or with a composition or with a concentration gradient that is variable over all or part of the length of said component cast in one piece, as shown in FIG. 4 c.

In this figure, said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) parts have one and the same diameter.

FIGS. 2 e and 2 g show the situation where said central part (3) forms a bellows spring (37), said spring being shown in side view in FIG. 2 g. This spring (37) engages with axial projections, a projection (22) of said lower part and a projection formed by said first portion (40) of said upper part (4).

In FIG. 2 f, the central part (3) forms, with the lower part (2) a telescopic device (36) which includes a rod (360) able to be displaced in a cavity (20) formed in said lower part, an external helical spring (361) exerting pressure against said upper part (4) while being supported against said lower part (2).

The cavity (20) has been closed up at its lower end by an auxiliary applicator (1″).

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are side views which show diagrammatically an applicator pressed against an application medium (9), said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) parts being of rectangular cross-section, so as to have, by a 90° rotation, two ways of bending said central part (3) of very different amplitude.

FIG. 3 a represents one way of bending said central part (3) forming a beam portion of “substantial” relative thickness, whereas FIG. 3 b represents a way of bending said central part (3) forming a beam portion of “reduced” relative thickness.

The cross-section of said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) parts has been shown in dotted lines, above said lower part (2).

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show another embodiment in which a rigid bush (21′) is able to slide from said lower part (2) to said central part (3), so as to rigidify said central part (3) if need be.

FIG. 4 a shows the situation where said rigid bush (21′) is located on the side of said lower part (2), whereas, in FIG. 4 b, said central part (3) is covered and rigidified by said rigid bush (21′).

FIG. 4 c shows the variation in the concentration of two plastic materials A and B, plastic material B being more flexible than plastic material A, with profiles of concentrations C_(A) and C_(B) in these two materials A and B as a function of the x-coordinate or length L, the two plastic materials A and B being extruded or co-extruded forming or not forming a mixture, and typically injected into a mould.

FIGS. 5 a to 6 b show another embodiment of the invention wherein said lower part (2) and said central part (3) form a hollow moulded component cast in one piece (8′) for said first longitudinal component (6).

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b relate to a first variant wherein said first longitudinal component (6) has a shape factor L/D of 7.55 (75.5/10).

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b relate to a second variant wherein said first longitudinal component (6) has a shape factor L/D of 4.91 (113/23).

FIGS. 5 a and 6 a are axial cross-section views of said first longitudinal component (6).

FIGS. 5 a and 6 b are side views of the corresponding brushes (1′).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, said central (3) and upper (4) parts may have mean visible cross-sections, denoted S_(B) and S_(C) respectively such that the relative deviation ER₂=|S_(B)−S_(C)|/S_(B) is less than 0.1, in such a way that said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) parts of said applicator (1,1′) form a second longitudinal component (7) of length L′ and of shape factor L′/D>L/D.

As shown in the figures, the applicators of the invention are longitudinal applicators, with a relatively high shape factor L/D or L′/D, as shown in FIGS. 1 d and 1 e.

As shown for example in FIGS. 1 b to 2 e, said central part (3) forming said means of resiliently straining said applicator under a manual constraint, may include a material chosen by its nature and/or cross-section, in such a way that said central part (3) is able to strain when said manual constraint is exerted typically during said application of said product to said medium (9), then is able to resume its initial shape as soon as said manual constraint ceases.

According to the invention, and as shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, said strain may include bending.

As shown in FIG. 2 f, said strain may include axial compression.

But, in the situation in FIG. 1 a, said strain may include both bending and compression.

According to one embodiment of the invention, and as shown for example in FIG. 2 b, said lower (2) and central (3) parts may include or be formed of different materials, a first and a second material respectively, said second material having mechanical characteristics, typically bending and compression moduli lower than the bending or compression moduli of said first material.

Said first material may be constituted by or include a plastic material, typically a non-elastomeric thermoplastic material, and said second material may be constituted by or include an elastomer.

However, as shown in FIG. 2 d, said lower (2) and central (3) parts may include or be formed of one and the same material, typically an elastomer or a polymer mixture including an elastomer.

Typically, said lower (2) and central (3) parts may have one and the same cross-section, and form a first typically cylindrical component (6), which is advantageous for easy manual gripping, and to obtain different application effects depending on whether the gripping fingers are farther from or nearer to said upper part (4).

According to one variant of the invention, shown for example in FIGS. 1 b and 1 c, said central part (3) may have, over all or part of its axial length, a minimum material cross-section S_(Bm), typically less than 0.5.S_(A), selected to obtain said strain under manual constraint.

According to another variant shown in FIGS. 1 e and 2 c, said central part (3) may include a plurality of N axial or helical threads (32), each thread (32) having a material cross-section S_(F), such that S_(Bm) is equal to N.S_(F), with N typically between 2 and 6.

According to another variant shown in FIG. 2 a, said central part may have an axial profile in the shape of a bobbin (33) the minimum cross-section of said bobbin (33) being S_(Bm).

According to another variant shown in FIGS. 1 b and 1 c, said central part (3) may have an axial succession or alternation (34) of full parts (340) and typically annular hollowed-out annular parts (341), said hollowed-out parts (341) having said material cross-section S_(Bm).

According to another variant shown in FIG. 1 a, said central part (3) may form or include a helical spring (35), either of metal, or of a plastic material forming a helix of external diameter D_(H) typically close to D.

According to the variant shown in FIG. 2 f, said central part (3) may form a telescopic system (36) with a central rod (360) able to penetrate into an axial cavity (20) formed in said lower part (2) and a helical spring (361), either of metal, or of a plastic material, surrounding said central rod (360).

As shown in FIGS. 1 c, 1 d, 2 a, 2 c, 2 d and 4 d, said lower (2) and central (3) parts may form a moulded component cast in one piece (8).

As shown in FIGS. 5 a to 6 b, said moulded component cast in one piece (8) may be a hollow component, typically of elastomer, and preferably of silicon resin, said central part forming a typically undulating surface having greater bending capability than said non-undulating lower part (2).

But, as shown in FIGS. 1 a, 1 b, 2 b and 2 e, said lower (2) and central (3) parts may form distinct components anchored by an assembly means (61) typically by being snapped on, by bonding or by welding.

In an applicator (1) according to the invention, and as shown in most of the figures:

a) said application material (5) may include a material absorbent of said cosmetic product, and typically a plurality of bristles (50) typically parallel and orientated along said axial direction (60), and,

b) said upper part (4) may form a double sleeve (4′), with a first portion (40) for anchoring to said central part, and with a second portion (41) for anchoring to said plurality of bristles (50), so as to form a brush (1′) or a pencil brush (1″).

Typically, said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) parts may have a round or oval or polygonal external transverse cross-section, typically constant over said length L or L′.

However, said lower (2) central (3) and upper (4) parts may have a flattened external transverse cross-section with a thickness e such that D/e is between 2 and 6, so as to form a two-dimensional applicator able to be housed in a dispenser of said cosmetic product.

According to another variant of the invention, said minimum material cross-section S_(Bm) may be a rectangular cross-section of length l and width l′ with a shape factor l/l′ between 2 and 4, in such a way that said applicator (1; 1′, 1″) has two distinct levels of resistance to bending depending on whether said bending constraint is exerted parallel to the direction of said length l or said width l′.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show the situation where the cross-sections S_(A) and S_(B) have such a rectangular side cross-section 1 and 1′.

As shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, said lower part (2) may include a locking means (21) typically a sliding bush (21′) so as to prevent, if need be, said central part (3) from undergoing said strain under said manual constraint.

Another purpose of the invention is constituted by a process of manufacturing an applicator according to the invention, wherein said component cast in one piece (8) can be formed typically by injection moulding in sequence of said first and second materials.

The applicator in FIG. 1 d was made in this way.

According to another embodiment of this process, and as shown in FIGS. 4 c and 4 d, said component cast in one piece (8) can be formed typically by simultaneous injection moulding of said first and second materials, A and B, with pre-set profiles of concentration C_(A) and C_(B) along said length L of said component cast in one piece, said profile C_(A) relating to said first material and said profile C_(B) relating to said second material, in such a way that said component cast in one piece typically has a minimum resistance to bending in said central part.

EMBODIMENT EXAMPLES

Brushes (1,1′) according to FIGS. 1 a to 2 f, according to FIGS. 3 a to 4 b, and according to FIG. 4 d have been manufactured.

To do this, on the one hand said first longitudinal components (6) constituted by said lower (2) and central (3) parts were manufactured.

On the other hand said upper parts (4) fitted with said application material (5) were manufactured or supplied.

Said longitudinal components (6) were then assembled, by being snapped on or by bonding, with said upper parts, fitted with said application material (5) so as to form said applicators (1,1′).

Said first longitudinal components (6) constituted by said lower (2) and central (3) parts were formed with the materials listed in the following table, as far as said lower (2) and central (3) parts were concerned: Brush in figure Lower part (2) Central part (3) Other material 1a PP = A Metal spring 1b PP PP 1c PP PP 1d PP Elastomer = B 1e PP PP 2a PP PP 2b PP = A Elastomer = B 2c PP = A PP 2d A + B A + B 2e PP Elastomer spring 2f PP PP Metal spring 3a and 3b PP = A Elastomer = B 4a and 4b PP = A Elastomer = B Rigid metal bush 4c and 4d PP = A Elastomer = B 5a and 5b Elastomer = B = Elastomer = same silicon resin part 6a and 6b Elastomer = B Elastomer = same part

LIST OF IDENTIFIERS

Applicator  1 Brush  1′ Auxiliary applicator  1″ Lower part of 1 = grip  2 Axial cavity  20 Means of locking 3  21 Sliding bush  21′ Axial projection  22 Cavity  23 Central part = resilient strain  3 Lower end  30 Lower projection  30′ Upper end  31 Upper projection  31′ Axial or helical threads  32 Bobbin-shaped axial profile  33 Succession or alternation  34 Full parts 340 Hollowed-out parts 341 Helical spring  35 Telescopic device  36 Rod 360 Spring 361 Blow spring  37 Upper part = support for 5  4 Double sleeve = collar  4′ First portion related to 3  40 Second portion support for 5  41 Application material  5 Plurality of bristles // to 60  50 First longitudinal component = 2 + 3  6 Axial direction  60 Assembly means between 2 and 3  61 Second longitudinal component = 2 + 3 + 4  7 Moulded component cast in one piece = 2 + 3  8 Hollow moulded component cast in one  8′ piece Application medium  9 

1. Applicator (1, 1′, 1″) of a product, typically a brush (1′) intended to apply a cosmetic product such as a make-up powder to a medium (9) such as the skin, including a) a so-called lower part (2) forming a typically rigid means of manually gripping said applicator, b) a so-called central part (3), anchored to said lower part (2) by its lower end (30), forming a means of resiliently straining said applicator under a manual constraint, c) a typically rigid so-called upper part (4), bearing an application material (5), said upper part (4) being anchored to said central part (3) at its upper end (31), and d) said application material (5) anchored by its base (51) to said upper part (4), is characterised in that: 1) said lower (2) and central (3) parts have mean visible cross-sections, denoted respectively S_(A) and S_(B) such that the relative deviation ER₁=|S_(A)−S_(B)|/S_(A) is less than 0.1, 2) said lower (2) and central (3) parts form a first longitudinal component (6) having an axial direction (60), said first component (6) having a first shape factor L/D between 3 and 7, L and D denoting respectively the largest axial dimension or axial length of said first component (6), and the largest dimension or diameter of said first component (6) perpendicular to said axial direction (60), so as to allow said applicator (1) to be gripped manually over the whole length L of said first component (6) and to modulate or control manually, if necessary, said manual constraint, and so to ensure great sensitivity and great delicacy in the application of said product to said medium (9).
 2. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said central (3) and upper (4) parts have mean visible cross-sections, denoted S_(B) and S_(C) respectively such that the relative deviation ER₂=|S_(B)−S_(C)|/S_(B) is less than 0.1, in such a way that said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) parts of said applicator (1,1′) form a second longitudinal component (7) of length L′ and of shape factor L′/D>L/D.
 3. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said central part (3) forming said means of resiliently straining said applicator under a manual constraint, includes a material chosen by its nature and/or cross-section, in such a way that said central part (3) is able to strain when said manual constraint is exerted typically during said application of said product to said medium (9), then is able to resume its initial shape as soon as said manual constraint ceases.
 4. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said strain includes bending.
 5. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said strain includes axial compression.
 6. Applicator according to claim 1 any wherein said lower (2) and central (3) parts include or are formed of different materials, a first and a second material respectively, said second material having mechanical characteristics, typically bending and compression moduli lower than the bending or compression moduli of said first material.
 7. Applicator according to claim 6 wherein said first material is constituted by or includes a plastic material, typically a non-elastomeric thermoplastic material, and wherein said second material is constituted by or includes an elastomer.
 8. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said lower (2) and central (3) parts include or are formed of one and the same material, typically an elastomer or a polymer mixture including an elastomer.
 9. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said lower (2) and central (3) parts have one and the same cross-section, and form a typically cylindrical first component (6).
 10. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said central part (3) has, over all or part of its axial length, a minimum material cross-section S_(Bm), typically less than 0.5.S_(A), selected to obtain said strain under manual constraint.
 11. Applicator according to claim 10 wherein said central part (3) includes a plurality of N axial or helical threads (32), each thread (32) having a cross-section of material S_(F), such that S_(Bm) is equal to N.S_(F), with N typically between 2 and
 6. 12. Applicator according to claim 10 wherein said central part has an axial profile in the shape of a bobbin (33), the minimum cross-section of said bobbin (33) being S_(Bm).
 13. Applicator according to claim 10 wherein said central part (3) has an axial succession or alternation (34) of full parts (34) and typically annular hollowed-out annular parts (341), said hollowed-out parts (341) having said material cross-section S_(Bm).
 14. Applicator according to claim 10 wherein said central part (3) forms or includes a helical spring (35), either of metal, or of a plastic material forming a helix of external diameter D_(H) typically close to D.
 15. Applicator according to claim 10 wherein said central part (3) forms a telescopic system (36) with a central rod (360) able to penetrate into an axial cavity (20) formed in said lower part (2) and a helical spring (361), either of metal, or of a plastic material, surrounding said central rod (360).
 16. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said lower (2) and central (3) parts form a moulded component cast in one piece (8).
 17. Applicator according to claim 16 wherein said moulded component cast in one piece is a hollow component, typically of elastomer, and preferably of silicon resin.
 18. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein, said lower (2) and central (3) parts form distinct components anchored by an assembly means (61) typically by being snapped on, by bonding or by welding.
 19. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein a) said application material (5) includes a material absorbent of said cosmetic product, and typically a plurality of bristles (50), typically parallel and orientated along said axial direction (60), b) said upper part (4) forms a double sleeve (4′), with a first portion (40) for anchoring to said central part, and with a second portion (41) for anchoring to said plurality of bristles (50), so as to form a brush (1′) or a pencil brush (1″).
 20. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said lower (2), central (3) and upper (4) parts have a round or oval or polygonal external transverse cross-section, typically constant over said length L or L′.
 21. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said lower (2) central (3) and upper (4) parts have a flattened external transverse cross-section with a thickness e such that D/e is between 2 and 6, so as the form a two-dimensional applicator able to be housed in a dispenser of said cosmetic product.
 22. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said minimum material cross-section S_(Bm) is a rectangular cross-section of length l and width l′ with a shape factor l/l′ between 2 and 4, in such a way that said applicator (1, 1′, 1″) has two distinct levels of resistance to bending depending on whether said bending constraint is exerted parallel to the direction of said length l or said width l′.
 23. Applicator according to claim 1 wherein said lower part (2) includes a locking means (21), typically a sliding bush (21′), so as to prevent, if need be, said central part (3) from undergoing said strain under said manual constraint.
 24. Process of manufacturing an applicator according to claim 7 wherein said component cast in one piece (8) is formed typically by injection moulding in sequence of said first and second materials.
 25. Process of manufacturing an applicator according to claim 7 wherein said component cast in one piece (8) is formed typically by simultaneous injection moulding of said first and second materials, A and B, with pre-set profiles of concentration C_(A) and C_(B) along said length L of said component cast in one piece, said profile C_(A) relating to said first material and said profile C_(B) relating to said second material, in such a way that said component cast in one piece typically has a minimum resistance to bending in said central part. 